This is the season where we find out if it's really Holland that likes guys like Emmerton and Andersson on our 4th line, or if it was really Babcock. With Datsyuk and potentially Franzen out to start the year, this may be Callahan's chance.

I hope Blashill goes with Callahan-Glendening-Ferraro. That line has speed, is physical, and is responsible defensively. That'd be the most well-rounded 4th line we've had in years.

My guess would be a fourth line with Miller and Glendening and Ferraro/Callahan rotating in.

IF Ferraro and Callahan have a good showing, wouldn't be surprised if this means an end to Drew Miller's time in Detroit.

Elon Musk has many rockets also but many have failed.... He has a lot of potential but he needs to learn how to release quicker or get open as he wont have that much time in the NHL to wind up and shoot like he has in the AHL most of the time

First. Nice rocket reference.

Second. Give him some time, man. Just because he hasn't figured it out with 34 games under his belt in the NHL doesn't mean he won't figure out how to get it off.

Do some of you believe Pulkinnen is a waste of a roster spot or something? There's very little to worry about here, we have the leading AHL scorer playing for us for dirt cheap and he isn't relied upon for scoring at this point, but it is is probably expected if he is to stay in the lineup

Now! NOW! NOW! YESTERDAY!

That is what people want.

People want him to be this fully formed ideal NHL version of Pulkkinen.

After what? A total of 34 games played in the NHL?

Its the same way that people want Mantha to be EVERYTHING! ALREADY! in the AHL.

I'm not a big fan of HF either, because for the most part the articles are written by fans like you or I. Also, I'm not sure when that was written, but it very well could have been written a few years ago, which back then, I would agree with the assessment. However, both his skating and his defensive awareness have come a LONG way in the past couple years, since joining the Griffins. I was hoping to find the intermission interview from a game toward the end of the season (or it may have been in the playoffs) of Blashill speaking on Pulkkinen's game, and how much it has evolved since entering the league... no such luck. He was basically saying how far he has come rounding out his game, and his attention to detail in all three zones is night and day from when he came over to North American 2 years ago... Just like any label given by a player, it's very difficult to shake, and Pulkkinen's skating and defensive ability is no different. He came into the league, not understanding the concept of back-checking, now he concentrates on the defensive end almost as much as the offensive end... I'm sure he's not quite there yet, but the point is, I don't necessarily want him to be. As long as he is willing to back-check, he doesn't need to be a Selke candidate. I'd much prefer him play a solid, well rounded game, but concentrate on putting the puck in the net...

Pulkkinen was a 4th round draft pick 5 years ago... What is wrong with him being a complimentary player, getting 3rd line minutes and being a weapon on the power-play? I don't get it at all... He's a player we've been looking for for quite some time now. He is a goal scorer and if he becomes half as good as some of us expect him to be, he will be a really good player for the Red Wings...

it appears that its going just a bit hard re-signing these two. Guess Holland just assumed that they would take the leftover tablescraps. Too many overpaid contracts on this team. Too many useless players that can easily be replaced with cheaper contracts.

There's absolutely no rush to get Jurco or Pulkkinen signed so don't speculate that there's trouble getting them signed... both have stated that they expect deals to get done soon

...and there's more than "tablescraps" left for them, but that isn't the issue either. Both Jurco and Pulkkinen know they aren't due hefty raises and don't expect them because they know how this team works.

I used to love Dan Cleary and this whole situation has kinda turned me off towards him... but I certainly blame Holland as much as I blame Cleary... but this situation would never keep me from going to games.

I'll level with you - I think it would be a mistake to have Jurco or Pulkkinen on the fourth line, which is what will likely happen if Mule is healthy.

Honestly, I don't think you're getting a pick for guys you may or may not lose on waivers. Personally, I like Callahan's game and I would enjoy having him on Detroit's fourth line. If it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world, though. A healthy Franzen can make or break a playoff series - you can't say that about Mitch Callahan.

I really see Jurco and Pulkkinen on limited fourth line duties unless they really don't play themselves out of that role.

They really need to push Helm off the second line and they should even be trying to push Abby out of that first line spot.

Slotting them into lines at this point... I dunno. Kinda hard. Franzen's spot could be open. You also have to factor in whether Datsyuk will be ready to go at the beginning of the season...

The fact remains that unless some team is really coveting one or more of Andersson, Ferraro, or Callahan they're unlikely to be claimed at the beginning of the season due to teams still figuring out their own team/roster/depth... and the inevitable injuries that will occur throughout the season.

I too would love to see Cally and Lando eventually get some fourth line time with Glenny.

Like say, instead of Andersson... or when there are injuries that require a call up or next year when we have to make a choice of re-signing a 32 y/o Drew Miller or replacing him with someone younger and cheaper.

not sure about others. However Pronger's did count against salary cap.

Forward Louis-Marc Aubry signs a one-year, two-way deal with the wings. Aubry will make $575,000 in the NHL and $80,000 in the AHL.

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In other news: We can't buy out Franzen until next year, and if we do, it will be costly not in actual dollar amount but in salary cap dollars because of the nature of his front loaded contract.

If we trade Franzen and he decides to retire, we will be hit with costly recapture salary cap dollars. If we waive Franzen and he is claimed we are still on the hook for recapture dollars if he does not finish out his contract. If we waive him and he goes down to GR, we'll garner little savings.

I would post the numbers, but most of you Franzen haters didn't even read this post... let alone care about sound reasoning when it comes to the player and his potential.

His potential, even as a thirteenth forward often scratched -- much like Weiss who's cap hit was more or Cleary, who clearly isn't an NHL caliber player, is worth more than any of the savings we'd get from any of the awful options listed above. So he doesn't play 82 games and put up the numbers he once did... but if he can slot in for injuries, chip in some goals here and there, get on a streak and dominate.

Gee. All the clusterf*** of cap woes above and his possible potential I don't know why I'd want to dump him in the bin.

Also, when the pro-Franzen s***-storm happens, I'm not buying an umbrella. I'll be like Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption after he crawls through the sewage tunnel, raising his arms to the sky with the rain pouring down -- except the exact opposite because I'm all clean and nothing but s*** is raining down. Sweet glorious Franzen s***! Still gonna welcome it like SWEET FREEDOM!